(in her words) “As we approached the line of police guarding the bridge that night, I could feel the unwavering determination of the crowd to meet the barricade and stand toe-to-toe with the militarized pawns of the state. I knew, as I came to a stop directly in front of an officer, our faces just inches from one another, that I had the strength to stand my ground alongside my fellow brothers and sisters who needed liberation as badly as I did. As I stared into the eyes of this officer, a spark of rage ignited inside me. Here we were, both black Americans, both subject to the centuries of oppression inflicted upon us by white imperialism, and yet he stood before me dressed in riot gear with a baton in hand, ready to protect the interests of the state just like the slave traders who used to patrol the ships to make sure their “cargo” was staying in line.